The Fog Knows Your Name
- October 24, 2019
- Choice of Games
Get on Steam"The Fog Knows Your Name" is a narrative-driven psychological horror game. Players must navigate through a mysterious fog, solving puzzles and making choices that affect the story's outcome. With multiple endings and a focus on atmospheric exploration, the game explores themes of isolation and paranoia.
Reviews
- Incredible story with a diverse wealth of options, pathways, and endings, making each playthrough unique and engaging.
- Well-developed characters and relationships that feel realistic and relatable, enhancing the emotional impact of the narrative.
- Strong writing and atmosphere that effectively blend mystery and supernatural elements, keeping players captivated throughout the experience.
- The stat management system can be punishing and unclear, leading to frustrating failures in skill checks that may feel unfair.
- Some players may feel railroaded into specific character paths or choices, undermining the sense of agency in decision-making.
- The romance options, while present, may feel underdeveloped or not fully integrated into the main plot, leaving some players wanting more depth.
- story91 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its engaging narrative, rich character development, and diverse branching paths that allow for multiple endings, keeping players invested throughout. While some reviewers noted minor pacing issues and a few clichés, the overall atmosphere, emotional depth, and integration of romance into the plot were highlighted as strong points. Many recommend it as a must-try for fans of story-driven games, emphasizing its ability to create a captivating and immersive experience.
“Incredible story with a diverse wealth of options, pathways, and endings!”
“The plot and writing are really good, and although the secret behind the fog wasn't some massive surprise, the author did an excellent job of setting up the eerie and mysterious atmosphere, creating a tangible sense of unease that kept increasing as the story's events unfolded.”
“The story is engaging, your friends feel like individuals and not placeholders, and the stats system feels as realistic as can be under the circumstances.”
“Everything in the story is pretty much cut and dried.”
“Some elements of the story borrow heavily from other books/movies - there's a town in Maine and frequently experiences heavy fog and there's something creepy in the fog that kills people.”
“The story itself does experience some slight pacing issues with one period in particular standing out, but beyond that it threads itself along beautifully and gives you enough control that your playthrough feels like it's definitively yours.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's emotional impact is mixed; while it may not reach the heights of more renowned titles, players appreciate its character development and engaging storytelling, leading to heartfelt moments and satisfying conclusions. Some found the emotional decisions forced early on to be frustrating, yet many experienced genuine emotional responses, including tears and moments of reflection, highlighting the game's ability to create an emotional roller coaster. Overall, it strikes a chord with players, offering a blend of heartwarming and intense experiences.
“It was a great game though - everything was paced well, the writing was amazing, I got really attached to the characters, and found my ending emotional and satisfying.”
“This game is an emotional roller coaster in its purest form.”
“There are scenarios where I have to stop reading and take a breath because of something terrifying; there's a single paragraph that made me cry.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by an eerie and mysterious tone, effectively building a sense of unease throughout the narrative. Despite some familiar tropes of a creepy New England town, the writing and pacing create a fresh and engaging experience that enhances the supernatural mystery. However, occasional character inconsistencies can disrupt the tension, impacting the overall immersion.
“The plot and writing are really good, and although the secret behind the fog wasn't some massive surprise, the author did an excellent job of setting up the eerie and mysterious atmosphere, creating a tangible sense of unease that kept increasing as the story's events unfolded, and just generally did a great job with the setting and pacing to really pull you in.”
“A well written, paced, and atmospheric supernatural mystery.”
“Don't get me wrong, so far the story is interesting and the writing is solid, but if your character fails at such simple things like 'not caring' and simply 'being angry', the tense atmosphere of the story regularly gets interrupted by massive facepalms.”
“The atmosphere of a small, creepy New England town has been done to death, but this story has managed to make it seem fresh somehow, which is its own accomplishment.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics depict a stark and desolate island setting, emphasizing a lack of infrastructure and a grim atmosphere that detracts from suspense. While some users appreciate the narrative's depth, others find the visual representation lacking, suggesting that the experience may be better suited for those who enjoy reading and using their imagination rather than relying on graphic visuals.
“The geographical background is an island near the coast where fishermen and lack of infrastructure is apparent.”
“They exist just to die; and it's normally portrayed in graphic detail just to kill whatever suspense or mystery was left.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its variety of choices that enable players to create a personalized narrative without being restricted by rigid pathways, a common flaw in similar games. However, some users feel that the romance mechanics could be more developed, with one reviewer expressing a preference for a playthrough that ignored this aspect entirely.
“If that sounds like gameplay you'd enjoy, I encourage you to check out this game.”
“The variety of choices that you can make throughout the story allows for a self-built narrative that isn't choked by 'you chose to follow this type of route, so you can never make opposing choices again' mechanics that other games in this genre suffer from.”
“The romance mechanics could have been more fleshed out; I actually preferred my first playthrough where I neglected that aspect altogether.”
“The gameplay feels repetitive after a while, making it hard to stay engaged with the story.”
“The combat system is clunky and unresponsive, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight that the game excels in character development, noting that it significantly enhances the emotional investment in the plot. The thoughtful allocation of time for character growth is praised, especially in a genre where this aspect is often overlooked.
“I was impressed by how character-driven the mystery and plot were. There was real emotional investment put into the story because enough time was set aside for actual character development, which is often missing from these types of games.”
